Another Non-Playoff Season For The New Orleans Saints

The Saints beat Tampa Bay on Saturday while the Redskins won their game and mathematically eliminated the Saints from the playoffs for the fourth time in the last five years.  The Saints will end the regular season in Atlanta this weekend and will finish the season with another non-winning record, their fourth in the last five years and the third straight non-winning season.

The Saints actually were eliminated from the playoffs when they suffered their seventh and eight defeat on consecutive weekends to Detroit and Tampa Bay. (although not mathematically)  But sport fans who are objective knew it, so did a few sports writers.  In those two defeats Drew Brees threw 6 interceptions and those two games turned out to be the most important ones of the season for the Saints to stay alive.

This writer stands by his commentary that Payton should have been fired for allowing bounty gate to happen.  It was an irresponsible act on Payton's part and the Saints had to play the 2012 season with out their head coach.  Payton's designated co-head coaches for that season were a disaster and even though Payton was not on the sidelines he bears responsibility for the Saints record that year. Times Picayune sports writer Larry Holder in an article of December 17 does not think Payton should be held accountable for the 2012 season.  That is par for the course for Holder.

In the same article Holder asks, "Is it time for a change."  (concerning Payton)  He then gives several examples to try and justify why the Saints should keep Payton but never gives the reader his own answer.  Holder is the same writer who during the season talked about Drew" personal performance as if the team was letting him down. (T.P. article of October 2)  That could work both ways.  Maybe the team feels Brees let them down with the six interceptions in those two games.

Yes, bounty gate started it all five seasons ago and there is no progress.  The entire coaching staff needs to go because they are not doing a professional coaching job.  And Drew Brees may have a lot of personal records but again, Tom Brady has done more for his team than Brees has done for the Saints.  And that really says it all for Brady is a better leader.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

What Will The New Year Bring Politically? A Continuing Story.

A triple history will take place in the new year, President Obama will leave office after completing eight years as President, Donald Trump will take the oath of office as the new President and both houses of congress will be controlled by the republican party.  Will the new year be progressive or regressive under a new administration?  Understanding the past has always been the key to the future for a lack of understanding the failures of the past produces a failed future.  Lets examine the past and see if there is a clue to what the future holds for the country and the people.

The twelve years of the Reagan-Bush 41 Presidency operated under the economic policy of so called "trickle down economics" that never created a lasting economy, job creation, balanced budgets or a sustained lower unemployment rate.  In fact the unemployment rate was over 10% for 10 straight months on Reagan's watch.  That was the highest sustained unemployment rate in the last 50 years.  Poverty levels stayed flat as did median family income.  And when Bush left office the nation was in a regressive state.

President Clinton succeeded Bush 41 in office and passed an economic plan that raised taxes on the wealthy, created the greatest economy, job creation, lowest sustained unemployment in 40 years, balanced the budget, paid down on the national debt, median family income increased $5400.00 and Clinton left office after eight years and the country was in a progressive state.

George W. Bush succeeded Clinton and passed a tax cut much like Reagan's "trickle down economics" and left office eight years later with the country in the worst recession since the great depression, the worst job creation record since the great depression, record deficits for 8 years, a higher unemployment rate than when he took office, median family income fell $2400.00, the poverty rate increased and Bush left office with the state in regression.

President Obama succeeded President Bush, passed an economic policy that included a stimulus for the economy, let the Bush tax cuts expire for those making over $500,000.00 a year, the poverty rate has fell, created over 15,000,000 jobs, the economy is growing, median income is increasing, the deficit has been reduced, the unemployment rate has been reduced to 4.6% and every part of the economy is much better now than when Obama took office.  The Federal Reserve announced last week that the country is at or near full employment.  And the country is in a progressive state.

So now the new year will start the administration of President Donald Trump.  Will the economic future of the country and its people fall back in regression or will it continue on the progressive road it is now on.  The future will reveal the answer and also if the Trump administration learned any thing from the failed past.  Trump's tax proposal also represents 'trickle down economics" and cast a large shadow on the economic future of the country.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

"PolitiDose:" On The Right Side Of History.

Early on during the part of the republican Presidential primaries this writer in commentary pointed out that despite the republican disclaimers about Donald Trump, he and the party were one and the same and would support him at the voting booth and if elected, support his policies.

And despite Trumps involvement with Russia's interference in the Presidential elections and his continued position of keeping his business interests while serving as President therefore a conflict of interest, republicans are still behind Trump with their support.

They have been joined by the conservative journalists who write opinion columns for the major newspapers across the United States.  Those same journalists used disclaimers about Trump during the primaries because they thought and even predicted a Clinton win.  But they voted for Trump because conservatives were willing to sell their soul and even American democracy to elect a republican President.

Yet every day we learn how Trump has no intentions of following any moral code of conduct that American Presidents have honored and carried out which has been the hallmark of what America is all about.  It is why the United States is respected around the world.  Trump's cry baby tweets, corrupt attitude, revenge motivation and willingness to use the Presidency for personal gain is completely out of step with our Presidential history.

Trump and the republican party have already contributed greatly to a regression in Presidential politics and the party has control of both houses of congress and the White House.  And make no mistake, it is just the beginning.  PolitiDose called the shot first and early on while the news media in general continue to be passive in their unprecedented coverage of Trump.  Make no mistake, on January 20 when Trump takes office he will enter the White House as a tainted President.   And that really says it all.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

Donald Trump: A President-Elect Bent On Destroying What Our Fore Bearers Established.

Both Presidential candidate and President-elect Trump has used his corrupt business attitude in an attempt to remake America's political process concerning the federal government in order to enhance himself and his business financially.  And now most of his cabinet appointees and other appointees come from the Wall Street Banks ranks, big business and people who are anti everything to do with government.

His un-American relationship with Russian's Putin asking him to hack into America's emails for personal gain and praising Putin as a much better leader than President Obama was an act of treason.  Putin has a history of doing away with people who oppose him, rigged Soviet elections and Trump still finds reasons to praise him and say he is a better leader than our American President.  Is there really any way to reconcile Trump's thinking.  Every day the President-elect becomes more and more tainted.

Trump's failure to release his tax returns because those returns would show how he and his business are in bed with many foreign countries and their leaders and represents a conflict of interest.  As of this date Trump has still not divested himself from his business interest and can not carry out his duties as President and Commander in Chief because of those conflicts.

Every day there is a new Trump tweet outside the norm of a President-elect with lies which are a daily part of his life.  It worked for him in his business environment and now uses lies in the political arena to deceive America and its people.  Trump said his appointment of General Mattis as Secretary of Defense was the closest thing to General Patton.  Trump obviously knows nothing about the military.  Patton was relieved of his command more than once for disciplinary reasons and was considered to be a "primadonna" by some of his superior officers.  General Mattis never had those problems.

And to think Trump received 62,904,682  popular votes in the general election according to the latest tally is chilling.  Even more chilling is the number of people commenting on facebook and other social outlets who said they voted for Trump because they share his moral values.  On the other hand 65,748,544 voted for Hillary Clinton.  That is a lead in the popular vote of 2.8 million and still growing for Clinton.

Donald Trump may be the President-elect but the majority of Americans who voted do not share his moral values or his corrupt business practice he is trying to inject into America's political system.  The swamp will get much larger with Trump in the White House but the out right lies will fall like a ton of bricks in due time.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

Tampa Bay 16 New Orleans Saints 11

The Saint's loss in Tampa assured the team will end the season for the third straight year without a winning record.  It will be the fourth year in the last five the Saints will end the season that way.  The Saints are now 5-8 with three games left, two of which will be on the road.

Drew Brees continued his turnover spree with 3 more interceptions, the last one was fatal and turned the ball over to Tampa who ran the clock.  It was the second straight game Brees was held without a passing touchdown and Tampa kept the Saints offense out of the end zone.

The coaching staff and the team are a basket case and continue to show no improvement.  Bounty gate has written the final chapter on Payton and his coaching staff and it is only a matter of time before the announcement is made by management.  This writer was on record as saying Payton should have been fired for allowing Bounty gate to happen at the time it was made public.  Payton has lost control of the football team and the players are just putting their time in.  And to top it off, when Payton returned the year after Bounty gate he received a large raise.  What a shame.

Drew Brees and his personal stats are no help and he and the players are paid to win games.
They are not being paid for personal records.  The sports writers in New Orleans never understood that and have been less than objective in their reporting ever since bounty gate.  This writer is on the record with a commentary after bounty gate was exposed that expressed the opinion that Payton's best years as the Saints coach had passed.

The results this season and the last four I believe confirm that opinion.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

Will The Future Under A Trump Administration Be Like The Failed Past Of Previous Republican Administrations?

The answer is unknown at this time but will start to unfold when Trump takes office next month.  In the mean time there is precedent that would indicate the answer will be "yes."  George W. Bush became President, inherited a great economy with record job creation, full employment, balanced budgets with surpluses, a safe America and so much more and left office 8 years later with the country in a great recession, debt, two wars, one which was unnecessary and built on a lie and lost wages for the average worker.

Enter President Obama when Bush left office and like the Clinton administration brought the economy back, jobs back, lowered the unemployment, reduced the deficit, kept America safe at home and abroad and the average workers wages are on the rise.  Next month Trump will receive the benefit of a country on the move and in good shape economically and financially, contrary to what he has been preaching.  Bush could not duplicate the success of the Clinton administration or come even close.  Clinton reversed the 12 years of Reagan-Bush 41 whose administrations under performed Clinton's 8 years in office.  Those 12 years of Reagan-Bush 41 put the country on the course of record deficit spending and debt.

So now it will fall to Trump and in this writers judgement things do not look as bright.  The President-elect is still the same as Trump the Presidential candidate who lies on a daily basis on a wide range of issues.  The latest being the number of jobs Carrier will keep in Indiana.  Trump's tweets continue to be childish and his behavior is unbecoming a President-elect.

Many of Trump's appointees are anti regulatory, anti labor, anti environment, oppose the minimum wage and are out of touch with American values.  Some also seem happy to spread Trump's lies.  Trump intends to run the country like he runs his business, with corrupt behavior.  Trump has also failed to show he will put the country and its peoples business first before his own business interest.

The truth of the future will be told, but what is unfolding now represents an attack on the Presidency itself and that should be a wake up call for America.  President Obama has kept American great in his time in office.  Trump has only talked about it.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

The Detroit Lions 28 The New Orleans Saints 13

The Saints got drunk on the praise given to them by the New Orleans sports writers after beating the Rams last week.  The writers acted like the Saints beat a top rated team but the Rams were 4-6, a poor team and it showed.  But yesterday in the Dome the Lions outplayed and out coached the Saints and the Saints fell to 5-7.  So far this season the Saints have beaten only one team with a winning record, Seattle.

The Lions ended Brees passing touchdown streak and Brees threw three interceptions which gave him 7 turnovers in the last four games.  After the Ram game sports writers were talking about Brees personal stats as if football is not a team sport.  And now the fans will hear the same excuses this week which have been the staple since "bounty gate."

The Saints are not a well coached team and the players still do not earn their salary, and that includes Brees.  This is a coaching staff and team that has not recovered from "bounty gate" and will not until the Saints change the head coach and his staff as this writer predicted after "bounty gate" was first made known.  The Saints have won only 12 of their last 28 regular season games and have made no progress since "bounty gate" season which was 4 seasons ago.  The coaching staff and players are just hanging on for the ride in this fifth season.

Sports writers in New Orleans who cover the Saints care only about one thing, apple polishing stories with no objectivity.  In fact after the Rams game one writer said no team could cover Saints receiver Michael Thomas but Detroit did and actually took him out of the game.  He was not even a factor for the Saints.  Saint fans should tune them out.  Tom Benson and Mickey Loomis has been silent for the last 4 years and just maybe after this season is over they might have some thing to say.  They have been just as bad as the Saints and the sports writers.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

LSU Hands Off Its Football Future To Ed Orgeron

Interim LSU football coach Ed Orgeron was officially named head coach of the football program.  Orgeron was not the choice of this writer and in a previous commentary expressed the opinion that LSU should clean house with the present coaching staff, hire a proven head coach with a winning record and let him pick his assistants.

Orgeron has no record of being a winning head coach and failed the test against Alabama and Florida this season with a foolish offensive game plan and play calling that gave the impression Les Miles was still on the side lines coaching. This writer also thinks those at LSU who are involved in firing or hiring a new coach failed the test last season when Miles was supposed to go and then stayed only to be fired after the fourth game of the season.  Did those people really think Miles was going to change when he had 10 years to do so?  Give me a break.

I believe Orgeron has the right idea with bringing in a new offensive co-ordinator, resigning LSU's defensive co-ordinator, hiring a new special teams coach and I wish he and LSU success as Ihave followed LSU for over 50 years.   However, in the back of my mind I have a feeling that none of the head coaches named as a possible choice for the LSU head coaching job wanted to come to LSU.  And if that is the case that should be troubling to all LSU fans.

Will Orgeron put an end to LSU's on again off again play of the last 11 seasons?  Time will answer that question and the question if Orgeron has the ability to become a winning head coach.  He had the opportunity in the past and never made it, but now takes over an LSU team with talent.  So the ball is back in his court.  It is an opportunity he may never have again.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

Another Big First For PolitiDose

In a previous commentary this writer pointed out Trump's double talk about the "establishment" when he said he was running against and tried to sell himself as an outsider.  He later described the "establishment" as the "swamp" and said he would drain it.  In the commentary this writer demonstrated that Trump himself was part of the "establishment" also, the establishment of corporate America who give millions to elected officials in the form of campaign contributions.

Trump during the republican debates admitted with his own mouth he gives campaign contributions to elected officials because he expects favors and when he calls them for help they help him.  Now as President elect, Trump has nominated as Treasury Secretary, Steven Mnuchin, a former executive with Goldman Sachs, a wall street bank.  Trump has also appointed at least two other Goldman Sachs executives.  An ethics attorney speaking on one of the cable news shows said appointing Mnuchin Treasury Secretary is like putting an alligator in charge of the swamp.  That is a great description and just another reminder the lies told by Trump during the campaign about draining the swamp just to get votes.

The Swamp will not be drained after all and now the country and its people will have to deal with Trump's establishment.  There will be much more to come out of Trump which will completely destroy what he promised the voting public.

This commentary written by Joe Lorio

November, Another Good Month For The Economy, Job Creation, Unemployment and The Country.

The Labor Department reported the economy created 178,000 jobs in November and the unemployment rate fell to 4.6% from the 4.9% in October.  Wages rose 2.5% and continued their upward trend.  The good news for the country and its people continue unabated on top of the recent GDP report for the third quarter that showed the economy grew 3.2% for the third quarter.

President Obama's policies have accomplished much for the country and the people and will leave office in less than 60 days with the second best job creation record next only to President Clinton's record job creation.  Obama's stimulus package early in his first term passed by the democratic controlled congress worked because the money was granted to the states so they could invest in infrastructure and other projects that would create jobs and lower the unemployment.  The republicans in congress opposed the stimulus and their ideology is the reason republican administrations have been a disaster for the economy and job creation.

And the news media has done a disservice to the country and the people for the past 8 years.  Instead of reporting on the positive things that have happened, they took up with the republicans and Trump and spread their lies and falsehoods about the economy, jobs, the unemployment and the war on terror.  Instead of being an informed news media, the media became an ignorant show place of deplorables.

History will serve President Obama and his administration well and his accomplishments will be written down in that history never to be erased by a news media that has gone completely out of control.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

Another Good Economic Report On The Economy That Reveal Donald Trump's Scare Tactics During The Presidential Campaign

The Commerce Department reported that the U.S. economy grew 3.2% in the third quarter ending September 30.  It was the best quarter of growth in two years and was driven by U.S. exports and solid consumer spending.  The Federal Reserve of Atlanta said that 4th quarter growth should be around 3.6%.  The economy continues to move forward, create jobs and lower the unemployment rate on President Obama's watch.

The economic report is a sharp contradiction to the economic fear preached by Trump during the campaign who told his supporters the economy grew only 1% in the third quarter and that the economy was a disaster.  Trump and his party are so chapped that it is a democratic administration once again who is moving the country forward after the economic disaster brought about by the previous republican administration.  It is just more evidence of Trump's lack of honesty and life style of being a fraud.

Trump will benefit from the strong U.S. economy upon taking office in January and no doubt will try and take credit but he and the republicans in congress are on record as the party who talk tough but no record of accomplishments to back up the rhetoric.  In the mean time the country and its people will be in a merry holiday mood and thankful to share the Christmas season with family and friends and not having to live in fear.

This commentary written by Joe Lorio

The Popular Vote In The 2016 Presidential Election Does Indeed Matter.

The latest report in the Huffington Post of 11/23 by senior editor Nick Wing points out that Hillary Clinton's popular vote lead over Donald Trump is now more than 2 million votes and still growing with approximately 2 million votes left to count.  He reported Clinton with 64,225,863 million votes and Trump with 62,210,612 votes.

The vote is a good indication that the last three Presidential elections contradicts the republican claim that the country is conservative.  Hillary's popular vote win also puts the democrats in congress in good position to block any extreme legislation that Trump and the republicans try to pass. It also shoots down what the news media is trying to sell as the democratic party in retreat.  The democrats picked up two seats in the U.S. Senate and 6 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives while Trump's election could not save those seats for his own party.

Clinton's popular vote win has already had an affect on Trump and his party.  They are making up excuses why he lost that vote.  They also understand, even though they will not admit it, the country will not support any over reach by Trump and his party because of the popular vote.  Trump and his party have to deal with the fact the majority of America's voters prefer Hillary Clinton's plans, policy and means of dealing with problems facing the country and not Trumps.  And the popular vote gives legitimacy to the democratic position.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

Mark Halperin and Donny Deutsch: Mouthpiece For Donald Trump and The Republican Party.

Bloomberg's television show, "With All Due Respect" of 11/17 with Halperin and Deutsch was the typical election propaganda trying to make the democratic party obsolete with Clinton's loss in the general election.  But nothing could be farther from the truth.  These are the same guys who can not articulate any accomplishments by former republican Presidents Bush 41 and Bush 43 and are now trying to convince their audience that another republican named Trump will accomplishment much.

The democrats lost the election but the popular vote is on their side and will be in future elections.  They just have to do a better job in certain states.  H and D won't talk about past republican administrations anemic job creation record and how Trump will turn that around or how he will balance the federal budget which no republican administration has done since Ike in 1960.  H and D also loved the Bush tax cuts and said it would propel the economy and create jobs.  The record has already been written in History, it did neither one.  But that does not stop them from pushing failed republican policies.

Both share the same problem.  They are chapped because President Obama will be leaving office on a high note and the country and its people are so much better off now than when Bush 43 left office and left the country in the worst recession since the great depression.  And now another republican  by the name of Trump will enter the White House as a tainted President.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

We Now Know Who Was The Real Crooked Candidate In The Presidential Campaign.

New York's attorney general who filed a fraud law suit against Trump University that was ready to go to trial, said 11/l8 the suit was settled out of court for $25 million in favor of the accusers.  The issue came up during the campaign and Trump not only denied the charges but also criticized the judge who ruled the suit could go to trial.  Trump also made racial remarks about the judge.

Despite saying he would not settle the law suite out  of court, this is one he settled.  Trump knew going to trial and having testimony under oath would be damaging to him and would cost a lot more money.  Plus, when settled out of court, the person being sued does not have to admit guilt.  However, fair minded people know the fraud suit and the settlement speak for itself.

A few weeks ago a well known attorney appeared on MSNBC and said he was representing a woman free of charge who alleges that Trump sexually assaulted her and would file suit and that there were others who will do the same.  If that comes about it will be interested to see how Trump reacts.  Trump actually said he would sue his accusers after the campaign was over.  Well; its over and no suit has been reported.

New York's attorney general, Eric Schneiderman in a Huffington Post commentary of 11/18 said the following about the fraud law suit:  "MY OFFICE SUED DONALD TRUMP FOR SWINDLING THOUSANDS OF INNOCENT AMERICANS OUT OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS THROUGH A SCHEME KNOWN AS TRUMP UNIVERSITY AND SAID DONALD TRUMP FOUGHT US EVERY STEP OF THE WAY AND HE CALLED THE UNIVERSITY PHONY'  What a statement from the attorney general who had all the evidence and facts.  The facts in the suit and the settlement indicate that Donald Trump was indeed the crooked candidate in the Presidential campaign.  Can one become any more deplorable than that?

This generation will witness a "tainted" President elect when he enters the White House.  What a shame for America, our children, our grandchildren and for American history.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

Does Congress Have A Mandate?

Senator Mitch McConnell, republican majority leader in the U.S. Senate says the republicans have a mandate because Donald Trump won the election.  However, republicans say the same thing when they lose elections.  It is their way to try and convince the people that their legislative agenda is the only agenda for America.  Like shutting down the government.

The truth of the matter concerning mandates is it does not represent reality when it comes to passing legislation because many times the legislation does not represent what was promised in the campaign.  And those who think mandates are viable, common sense would dictate that the democrats in congress are the party with the mandate because Clinton won the popular vote receiving over 60,000,000.  So her plans and policies were more acceptable to the majority voters than Trumps.

If the republicans in congress want to start out pushing their programs without democratic voice than the democrats have the right to do what ever they can to block the republicans agenda.  And if it comes down to a mandate, the public will be on the side of the democratic party.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

President Obama Is More Of A Man Than The President Elect Donald Trump

President Obama's good character was on display when he called Donald Trump to congratulate him on his victory and then invited him to the White House to discuss a smooth transition of power.  The President was very gracious to the man who told the American people the President was not born in America.

The President will be leaving office in two months and will be leaving with his head held high and many accomplishments.  Because of his policies he will also be leaving a country that is much better off than it was when he became President 8 years ago in 2009.  Our country and its people have also been safe from foreign terror attacks.

On the other hand, President elect, Donald Trump will be taking office after running the most divisive and negative campaign in history.  His hate for the American system came from his own mouth and he ended his campaign by insisting the very voting system that elected him was rigged against him.  And in between, he exhibited a moral attitude out side the norm of main street America and said Russian President Putin was a better leader than President Obama.

President Obama has demonstrated his leadership and character as President for 8 years.  President elect Donald Trump has not been able to do that even in a campaign.  And that really says it all.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

Hillary Clinton: The All American Presidential Candidate

Hillary Clinton has been much more than a dedicated public servant during her political career.  And it was demonstrated in her concession speech on Wednesday, the day after the election.  She was not only gracious at a time of disappointment, she asked her supporters to give Donald Trump a chance to lead.  She also reminded her supporters that their dreams are still alive and should continue in the future.

Although Clinton did not reach the needed 270 electoral votes to win the Presidency, she did win the popular vote according to the latest released numbers.  So she not only ended her Presidential campaign a winner, she ended it in style with a concession speech of civility without a hint of threats.  The moral high ground was on Clinton's side in this election and the majority of the voters confirmed that with their vote.

Hillary's concession speech also confirmed she had the temperament that is needed to be President and Commander in Chief.  She put America first, which is one reason she was a successful public servant.  America lost the President of its people's choice on November 8, but Hillary Clinton stands tall as a true All American.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

HAPPY 241st. BIRTHDAY TO THE UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS.

Happy Birthday to my fellow Marines and to all who wore the eagle, globe and anchor where ever you may be, especially those Marines who are serving in harms way.  We wish all a safe return home to family and loved ones.  Two hundred and forty one years have passed and Marines still share the basic tenet of duty, honor and commitment.

The Marines motto Semper Fidelis, Always Faithful, shaped our discipline and commitment to the Corps, our brother Marines, our country and will always be there.  And no matter the cause, the time, the day or the place we are THE FEW, THE PROUD, THE MARINES.  May the Supreme Commandant continue to watch over our beloved Corps.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MARINES


Semper Fi

Sgt. Joe Lorio

LSU Needs To Clean House

LSU's loss to Alabama on Saturday night in prime time was much more than a loss game.  It exposed a fairy tale offense, the worst this writer has seen since LSU's re-match loss to Alabama in the national championship game a few years ago.  Miles was no longer on the side lines but the offensive play calling and game plan was a mirror image of the Miles era.  Fournette right and Fournette left and get stuffed.  A passing game that never looked downfield.  

A number of SEC teams that played Alabama this year scored more than 20 points and moved the ball offensively against them.  Their players are no better than LSU's players but are better coached and were not afraid to challenge and attack Alabama's defense.  LSU never made that a part of their game plan and as a result they never took advantage of how great LSU's defense played.

LSU needs to clean house with the current coaching staff, hire a head coach with a proven record and let him hire his assistants.  A program that has been up and down now for the past 11 years has to come to a end.  And sports writers for the Picayune and the Advocate have been so wrong for so many years with their sports hype need to apologize to their readers for their failure to be objective.

By the way, did any one really believe LSU could produce a offensive Heisman trophy winner under Miles offensive system?  Give me a break.

This commentary written by Joe Lorio

More Positive Economic News For America and Its People.

The U.S. Labor Department announced that the economy created 161,000 new jobs in October and the unemployment rate fell to 4.9%.  It was the 80th straight month of positive job growth.  Hourly wages were up 2.8% annually, the largest increase since 2009.  The unemployment rate when President Obama took office was 7.8%.  The good economic news should be a plus for Clinton when the people vote tomorrow and this writer thinks the voters will take that into consideration.

Trump and his party are still preaching doom and gloom and are incapable of recognizing the good job Obama has done since he took office.  And Trumps only announced plan for the economy is a major tax reduction for corporations, the wealthy and a repeal of the ACA.  And none of those will do any thing for the economy or job creation.  The republican party's lack of accomplishments is still the major reason why Trump and his party always deal in personal attacks.  In other words, when you can not compete on the issues, attack and attack again.

With two months left in office, President Obama has made come true what this writer predicted in PolitiDose in 2009.  That it would be a democratic administration that brought the economy back, created jobs, lowered the unemployment rate, reduced the federal deficit and keep America safe.  And as usual, you read it here first in PolitiDose, your daily dose of political commentary.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

The Presidential Campaign Is Finally Coming To An End

This writer expressed long ago in "PolitiDose" that Presidential campaigns are too long, too expensive and a waste of time, and this years campaign that will finally come to an end next week is the perfect example.  It has been non stop for a year and a half and much of the campaign has been about petty speeches and very little substance.

A much shorter campaign would improve the process, reduce the cost and gain more attention from the voters.  The two major parties, democratic and republicans should adopt rules to make it happen and also a rule that any member of its party who wish to run must release his tax returns by a date certain.  Third party candidates would join the movement and allow them to compete on a higher level.

The news media does its part in making long presidential campaigns a circus.  And this year Donald Trump was their ring master.  Their love affair with Trump swamped the news cycle.  The Huffington Post, an on line newspaper, usually had Trump headline stories 9 out of the 10 top stories on their front page.  And those stories offered nothing about Trumps plans if he becomes President.

When this campaign ends next week it should never be allowed to duplicate itself ever again.  Hillary Clinton also said long ago that Presidential campaigns are too long.  If she is elected President she will have the opportunity to start a serious conversation and start the process that will bring this issue under control.  It can be done and must be done.  It is the sane thing to do to return civility to a political process that has failed the people.  And that simple reason happens to be the best reason of all.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

The Latest In The Sad, Sad Saga Of The Republican Party

The latest allegations against Donald Trump and his sexual assaults on more women who came forward to tell their stories and Trump's cry baby attitude that the election and the news media is rigged and therefore the voting process was rigged was met with cries from members of his own party that they could not support him.

BUT GUESS WHAT THEY SAID AFTER THAT?  They said they would still vote for him.  In other words they are indeed supporting Trump.  One republican congressman even said he did not want his children exposed to that but he would still vote Trump.  It follows what this writer said long ago in "PolitiDose", Donald Trump and the republican party are one and the same and the party will support Trump and are willing to sell their soul to the devil to return to power in the White House.

The republican party, Trump and the Fox News Network have harmed our democratic election process with their extreme actions and just the other night Fox took a turn for the worse when Megyn Kelly interviewed Newt Gingrich that turned out to be about sex with both making comments unfit for television.  But Fox does not care.  Gingrich has disgraced himself long ago by his own actions and extreme attitude but Fox keeps inviting him back.  They deserve each other.

Hillary Clinton and the democratic party are still the best chance for democracy to survive as our forefathers  fought so hard to establish.  On November 8, the voters should put an end to Trump and his party's destructive behavior.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

Facebook and The Social Media

It is no secret that the cable networks have failed to deliver a serious conversation of the every day happenings in American life.  Makes no difference what subject matter is taking place the coverage is slanted, turned into sound bites or just plain inaccurate.  Filling up air time is all that matters and the good news and happenings are given the least attention.

Social media, especially Facebook is the king of worst in this writers opinion.  In fact when it comes to comments concerning the Presidential race it is down right nasty, void of facts most of the time and the posters that are posted with commentary don't tell the story of the subject matter it relates to.  Then you have a bunch of people who say they miss the values taught to them by their generation and then turn around and make nasty and offensive comments that the generation who taught them would never make.  It is a sad contradiction.

Facebook and the social media could be a good balance to cable news and the major networks but instead have joined the media's game of spin.  It is really unfortunate when people use their free will to make extreme comments about other people when they could use that same free will to say something positive.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

Mitch McConnell: Eight Years Later and Still Obstructing Progress.

Republican Mitch McConnell, U.S. senate majority leader will end this year in the senate like he started eight years ago.  When President Obama was first elected President, McConnell vowed not to work with the President and when Obama announced several months ago his nominee to fill the vacant seat on the U.S. Supreme Court McConnell said the senate would not take up the nomination.

So the republican controlled congress will end this year in failure just like the Bush administration ended its Presidency.  On the other hand President Obama will finish his term and leave office on a high note of accomplishments.  The country has a much improved economy, jobs, lower unemployment, reduced deficit spending, smaller increase in federal spending, a poverty rate that is going down instead of up, our home land has been safe and fewer of our men and women in uniform are dying in the middle east and around the globe.  Median wages are increasing and more people are entering the job market because of better economic conditions according to the Labor Department.  The consumer satisfactory index is at its highest since 2007.

Because of McConnell's lack of action and failure to execute his duty and hold hearings on President Obama's Supreme Court nominee, the Court is not functioning like it should and cases on its calendar have been pushed back according to the latest reports.  Like Trump, the republican party and its leaders in congress are unfit to govern and deserve each other.

Hopefully on November 8 the people will vote to have democrats take control of the senate along with keeping a democrat in the White House. Precedent indicates that would be the best outcome for the country and its people.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

The Third Presidential Debate

Hillary Clinton won the final Presidential debate Wednesday night in Las Vegas and swept all three debates with her opponent Donald Trump by a wide margin.  And once again Clinton was the steady voice for the people, answered the questions with knowledge, authority and demonstrated her political understanding of the issues facing the next President. Clinton spent a lot of time with the audience after the debate visiting and talking.  Trump spent only a short time doing so and then left.

Trump was his usual self, did not answer many of the questions and when he did his answers were incoherent and many times was off the subject in a rambling matter.  And like in the other two debates, he interrupted Clinton numerous  times while she was speaking or injected comments before she finished speaking.  The hate that Trump has for Clinton was in full display with his body language and facial expressions.

Trump was not prepared for the debate and therefore made a mockery of the debate and was a slap in the face to his supporters, the voters in general and the Presidential debate process.  It is ironic that the debate was held in Las Vegas, the gambling capitol of the United States because Trump himself was in the casino business.  So one can say on Wednesday night in Las Vegas Trump rolled the dice at the debate and crapped out big time.

Hillary Clinton through out the campaign and the debates refused to be intimated or bullied by Trump and demonstrated she is a better woman than Trump is a man.  Clinton is ready and qualified to be President.  Donald Trump is not and not any where close.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

The $10 Billion Man With As Many Excuses For Placing Blame

Donald Trump told the American people he was worth $10 billion but unfortunately he also has as many excuses for blaming every one for his negative life style and what appears to be his declining Presidential campaign.  For a business man to unravel as Trump is doing of his own free will confirms he is not fit to be President.

Trump says every thing is rigged against him, the republican primaries, the debates, the general election, the women who have come out and accused him of sexual assault, the news media who has a running love affair with Trump, the republicans in congress, the microphone that was rigged during the first Presidential debate and the list goes on and on.  And now the latest blame is Bill Clinton , a man that is not even on the ballot.

In the mean time Hillary Clinton is still the steady voice for the country and offers no complaints even though Trump keeps up a steady stream of ugly personal attacks.  And the American people can look for even more of the blame game from Trump until election day and also the personal attacks.  The word "deplorable" really does describe the Donald.  And that really says it all.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

Louisiana's U.S. Senate Candidates

Louisiana has 24 candidates seeking election to the U.S. Senate in the November election to fill the vacancy that will take place when republican U.S. Senator David Vitter will retire.  Most of those 24 candidates are republicans with two democrats that are running neck and neck so far.

The republicans are campaigning against President Obama like Donald Trump is doing and as Vitter did when he ran for governor against John Bel Edwards.  In other words, they are campaigning against the past instead of articulating their future plans to the voting public.  That campaign policy failed Vitter big time and Edwards was elected governor.  If the current polls hold true, Trump will also fail on November 8.  The two democrats are campaigning about the future and one of them should make the run off election.

This writer believes it would be wise for Louisiana to elect a democrat to fill the vacancy that will be left by Vitter's retirement.  Louisiana already has one republican U.S. Senator and now needs a democrat to balance the state, the people and the country's needs.  Another do nothing republican should not be an option.  The people of Louisiana are learning how Louisiana's republican attorney general Jeff Landry is trying to undermine the Edward's administration for personal reasons.  That is what republicans do and how they govern.

Louisiana also needs another democratic voice in Washington to work with governor Edwards who can articulate Louisiana's needs to the President and congress.  Under the democratic administration of President Obama our nation has emerged from the great recession of 2008.  And under the democratic administration of governor Edwards Louisiana is in the process of emerging from the big time failures of past republican governor Bobby Jindal.

The future of Louisiana will best be served if the next U.S. Senator from Louisiana is a democrat.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

The Republican Party: Leaderless, Sad, Unable To Function and It Was All Predictable.

The republican party, Donald Trump, conservatism and the conservative news media, including journalists are so screwed up and at each others throat, what is taking place today was predictable.  The party and Trump are fighting each other.  The conservative news media and journalists openly express their displeasure with the republican party's lack of accomplishments after years of telling America how republicans were better at governing than democrats.  They disagree with Trump but still support him.

Trump exploited his own party's weakness in the republican debates and his party fell like a ton of bricks and Trumps opponents were reduced to rubble.  But all 17 candidates signed a pledge to support the nominee no matter what.  Taking the pledge was a ignorant thing to do and the trap was set.  All lost credibility especially Trump and now less than a month to the election and Trump and the party say they will go their own way.

Conservative journalists have now turned on the republic party big time, but are still clinging to Trump.  The problem stems from the fact that they are all one and the same.  Their self proclaimed elitist has been exposed by their own doing and lack of accomplishments.  They have lost the family values issue because it was a fairy tale to begin with just like their claim to have a workable plan to replace the ACA.  The republicans in congress will end this year with the least amount of working days and accomplishments.  That is a sad story for a party who told the America people they would accomplish much after taking control of both houses of congress almost two years ago.

The republican part is dying a slow death of their own making and creating problems in our political system that is unnecessary simply because their leaders lack the character and courage to stand up and change their negative ways.  The best way for the voters to try and change that is to elect a democratic controlled congress and a democrat President.  The republicans will never change on their own and there is a strong possibility that this election year will break up the party as we know it.

The past seven years and nine months under the administration of President Obama has demonstrated that the democrats are still the grown ups in Washington to take care of the people's business and continue to move the country forward.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

The Time Is Right For America To Elect The First Woman President

It is actually past time and records have been found of the very first civilization on earth, that of the Sumerians almost six thousand years ago.  Those records tell the story of life and the major role played by women in all walks of Sumerian life.  The land of Sumer which is present day Iraq is not the United States but the same principles are there concerning the ability of women.

And now in the year 2016 America has its very first woman nominee for President of the United States and Hillary Clinton happens to be that nominee of the democratic party.  Her opponents are two men and another woman.  The Presidential campaign has been in progress for over a year and Clinton is the only candidate in the race who has been steady, consistent, knowledgeable on the issues, issues oriented, sure of herself and a voice for all the people.

Clinton has won both Presidential debates so far with a clear majority and has shown a temperament that is in line with good leadership.  This writer was eligible to vote for the first time in a Presidential election in 1956 and believes Clinton is one of the most prepared and capable candidate through all those years.  A Clinton Presidency would open the door for more women in the business world, politics and life in general which in turn would enrich the quality of life on all sectors.

Clinton's lifetime of public service will bring people together for a better tomorrow for the country and its people and the voters in this generation can make history on November 8, not because she is a woman but because she has demonstrated that she is the best qualified candidate to occupy the White House.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

The U.S. Economy, Jobs and Increase In Wages Continue In September

The U.S. Labor Department announced that 156,000 new jobs were created in September and the unemployment rate was 5%, up from the 4.9% in August.  It was the 79th straight month of positive job growth.  More and more people are flocking to the job market says Sung Won Sohn, an economist at California's State University Smith School of Business.

Other good news:  (1)  400,000 people began looking for jobs that had been unemployed because the word has been spread there are jobs to be had. (reason why unemployment ticked up one tenth of one percent)  (2) Average hourly pay for September was up 2.6% than it was a year ago.  (3)  Consumer satisfaction index increased in September over August and now stands at its highest level since 2007.  (4)  The National Retail Federation is forecasting holiday sales this year will be up 3.6%, higher than it was last holiday season.

The republican party and its Presidential nominee are still preaching economic doom and gloom in this election year and are still living in their own fairy tale world brought about by their own party's past failures.  They stopped living in the real America long ago.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

Part V: The 2016 Presidential Election: Is It Really Just A Coincidence?

Those who follow politics know that the Republican Party's attitude is to convey the message they are best at running government and dealing with all the issues and they also believe conservatism makes them elite.  The party also goes to the extreme in their attempt to demonize the democratic record of success.  Their Presidential candidate Donald Trump has taken up the same ditto rhetoric.

BUT IS IT REALLY JUST A COINCIDENCE THAT:

The last republican administration to balance the federal budget was President Eisenhower in 1960, over 50 years ago.  But in that same time span two democratic Presidents, Lyndon Johnson and Bill Clinton balanced 5 federal budgets.  The republicans and democrats controlled the White House 28 years each during that span including Barack Obama.  Source:  Congressional Budget Office Historical yearly record on the federal budget.

In the last 50 years the largest percentage increase in the national debt took place on the watch of the republican administrations of Ronald Reagan, George W. Bush and Nixon-Ford.  At the end of President Reagan's eight fiscal years the national debt increased a whopping 186%.  At the end of President George W. Bush's eight fiscal years the national debt increased 105%.  At the end of President's Nixon-Ford's eight fiscal years the national debt increased 98%.  Where as the smallest percentage increase in the national debt took place on the democratic watch of Kennedy-Johnson, Clinton and Carter.  At the end of President's Kennedy-Johnson's eight fiscal years the national debt increased 18%.  At the end of President Bill Clinton's eight fiscal years the national debt increased 31%.  At the end of President Carter's four fiscal years the national debt increased 43%.  President Obama has not completed his term in office but at the end of his last fiscal year the percentage increase in the national debt will not exceed Reagan, Bush or Nixon-Ford.  Source:  U.S. Treasury Historical Yearly Record On The National Debt

In the last 36 years the largest increase in total federal spending took place on the republican watch of President's Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush.  In Reagan's first four fiscal years total spending increased 50% over the previous four fiscal years.  In Reagan's second and last four fiscal years it increased 25% over his first four fiscal years.  In Bush's first four fiscal years total federal spending increased 28% over Bill Clinton's last four fiscal years.  In Bush's last and final four fiscal years total federal spending increased 33% over his first four fiscal years.  The smallest increase in total federal spending took place under the democratic administrations of President's Bill Clinton and Barack Obama.  In Clinton's first and second terms (eight fiscal years) total federal spending increased 14% in each of his four fiscal years.  In President Obama's first four fiscal years total federal spending increased 18% over George W. Bush's last four fiscal years.   Source:  Congressional Budget Office Historical Yearly Record On the Federal Budget.

No Republican President in the last 50 years has left office with a smaller federal budget deficit than it was when he took office.  But three democratic Presidents did.  Lyndon Johnson, Bill Clinton and Barack Obama will also when he leaves office even though he inherited the largest single year federal deficit of $1.4 trillion courtesy of President George W. Bush.  Source:  Congressional Budget Office Historical Yearly Record On the Federal Budget.

No republican administration in the last 50 years has created as many jobs as the democratic administration it followed.  Not even President Reagan.  In Reagan's first four years 5.3 million jobs were created.  In President Carter's first and only four years 10.3 million jobs were created.

The highest sustained unemployment rate in the last 50 years took place on the republican watch of President Reagan.  It stood at over 10% for ten straight months from September 1982 to June 1983 and averaged 10.4% for those ten months.Source:  U.S. Labor Department Historical Yearly Unemployment  tables.

The two greatest economic failures took place on the republican watch of President's Herbert Hoover during the great depression and George W. Bush in the economic meltdown of 2008.

The three greatest bank failures took place on the republican watch of President's Herbert Hoover, Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush.  Herbert Hoover, the bank failures during the great depression.  Under Ronald Reagan the Savings and Loan failure in the early 80"s that cost the government over one billion dollars and the Wall Street Bank Failures under George W. Bush.

The worst terror attack against Americans abroad took place on the republican watch of President Ronald Reagan when terrorists blew up the Marine compound in Lebanon that killed 241 U.S. Marines.  The planners of that attack were never brought to justice by the Reagan administration.

The worst foreign terror attack on America's homeland took place on the republican watch of President George W. Bush on 9/11/01 when terrorists struck the world trade center in New York and the Pentagon killing over 3,000 people.  The Bush administration failed to bring the planner of those attacks to justice and he had seven years and three months to do so but President Obama did.

There was no statistical change in the U.S. Poverty rate during President Reagan's term in office.  It was down 3.5% on President Clinton's watch and up over 2% on President George W. Bush's watch.  It was down 1.3% in 2015 compared to 2014 and is projected to be down again at the end of Obama's term in office.  Source:  U.S. Census Bureau

More jobs were created under the administration of democratic President Bill Clinton in 8 years than were created under the republican administration of President's Reagan, Bush 41 and Bush 43 in the 20 years they served.  There were 22.7 million jobs created on Clinton's watch.  On Reagan's watch 16.1 million jobs were created;  On Bush 41 watch 2.5 million jobs were created;  On Bush 43 watch 1.1 jobs were created. A total of 19.7 million jobs for their 20 years, 3 million less jobs than Clinton.  And when Obama leaves office more jobs will be created under his administration in 8 years than were created under Bush 41 and Bush 43 in the 12 years they served.  So far over 15 million jobs have been created under President Obama. And to think that both Reagan and Bush cut taxes for corporations and the top 1% while Clinton raised taxes on those making over $200,000.00 but trickle down economics did not create the economy or job creation that those republican Presidents said it would.  And now Trump is trying to sell the American people the same fairy tale.

North Korea tested its first atomic bomb and became a nuclear power and Iran pursued a nuclear program on the republican watch of President George W. Bush while he was talking tough but the President had no policies to deal with the two threats because the country was involved with Iraq.  President Obama's administration and its allies struck an agreement with Iran that shut down their nuclear weapons program.

It was the Obama administration that brought Bin Laden to justice because the President made doing so his top priority to the intelligence community.  Tough talk played no role but plans and tough action did.


On the republican watch of President Ronald Reagan the United States moved from being the worlds largest international creditor to the worlds largest debtor nation.

The facts would tell any reasonable person that democratic administrations perform much better than republican administrations in all matters of importance in governing and the country and its people are better off because of it.  "Coincidence" of such a broad range and over such a long period of time just don't happen.  Democrats believe that plans and policy position s are necessary to come up with the right answers to solve problems and deal with the issues.

Republicans lack plans and policies to deal with problems and issues because they govern by ideology.  Their decisions are not based on facts to solve problems.  They do just the opposite and bend the facts to suit their ideology and there fore never solve a problem or an issue.  That is why they engage in personal attacks and lack any dialogue of accomplishments.

The bottom line is democratic administrations have accomplished those issues that republicans only talk and brag about and democrats have accomplished those issues on a regular basis over a period of many years.  This writer believes the election of Hillary Clinton on November 8 to be the next President of the United States is the right choice for the country and its people.  The historical facts indicate a Clinton administration will continue the progress made under the Obama administration and even expand more positive opportunities for the country and its people.  A Clinton administration would also keep the country and our people safe.

Note 1:  Source of information on job creation comes from Wikipedia and other online information concerning job creation.  All reported information on Job creation are not the same but are very close and do not change the numbers shown in this commentary.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio



  

NAFTA and JOBS: The Greatest Story Never Told

Political games happen when a politician or one who aspires to be one has no record to run on and picks an issue where most people have little or no understanding and starts the blame game.  In this years Presidential election the issue is NAFTA.  The issue came up also in the Presidential elections of 2008 and 2012.  Trump is trying to make it an issue in this years election and the theme is that it kills jobs in America and sends those jobs overseas.

Although NAFTA is more than just jobs by any stretch of the imagination this commentary will be about jobs since that is what is being talked about.  NAFTA became effective in January of 1994 and was signed into law by President Bill Clinton.  The talk of NAFTA started many years before Bill Clinton came upon the Washington scene.  The U.S. Senate passed NAFTA by a 61-38 margin with republicans supplying the majority yes vote with 34 and the democrats with 27.  The measure was passed in December of 1993.

During President Reagan's 8 years in office 16.1 million jobs were created.  During President George H.W. Bush's 4 years in office 2.5 million jobs were created for a total of 18.6 million jobs for those 12 years and NAFTA was not in effect any of those years.  During President Clinton's 8 years in office 22.7 million jobs were created, more than the Reagan-Bush years in the 12 years they served.  NAFTA was in effect during Clinton's terms in office.

During President George W. Bush's 8 years in office 1.1 million jobs were created and NAFTA was in effect during his 8 years in office.  So the Administration of Bill Clinton created more jobs in 8 years than Reagan-Bush 41 and Bush 43 did in the 20 years they served.  President Obama has been in office 7 years and 9 months and more than 15 million jobs have been created on his watch while NAFTA is in effect and President Obama inherited the worst economic conditions and a record loss of jobs since the great depression.

That means 37.7 million jobs were created under the Clinton and Obama administrations as of this date and under NAFTA conditions and only 18.6 million jobs under Reagan and Bush 41 while NAFTA was no where in sight.  Throw in President George W. Bush's poor job creation record under NAFTA conditions and one can easily see how the democratic administrations of Clinton and Obama did so much better creating jobs.

NAFTA does indeed reduce jobs in the United States but it is democratic President's policies concerning the economy that produces jobs and reduces the affect NAFTA has on exporting jobs.  And democratic plans and policies work better for creating a better economy and producing American jobs than the conservative ideology of republican Presidents.

If journalists were up to date they could have reported the facts long ago when republican guests on their shows say democratic administrations are job killers.  But they remain silent and fail to inform their viewers and the people.  But good thing there is a record, and the record speaks loud and clear with the facts.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

Note:  Source of information on job creation as used here in.  There are many on line reports of job creation under Presidential administrations and Wikipedia.  Some give job numbers that are not exactly the same as used above but the difference is so small it does not change the real numbers.

The LSU - Miles Fiasco

The firing of Les Miles was way past due but who ever was part of the decision making process that extended Miles contract with raises performed just as bad as Miles.  Football fans recognized Miles short comings long ago and how that affected LSU's won-loss record and performance.  Yet, there has been two groups who should have known years ago of Miles short comings and were silent.

The first group, LSU's athletic director and any one else on his staff who was supposed to evaluate Miles performance failed big time in allowing the situation to continue and get worse.  The second group are sports writers who have been silent and only recently jumped on the band wagon of saying Miles had to go.  They just kept writing the usual stories about how LSU would compete for the national championship and etc, etc.

The idea of giving head coaches long term contracts with huge raises and buyouts have to end.  The school is the loser financially and other wise.  There are too many good young coaches out there who are more in tuned with the change taking place in football that renders long term contracts obsolete.

Miles should have been fired after the remach game with Alabama for the national championship because of LSU's sad performance and the way he handled the quarterback situation in that game.  Miles incompetence was so glaring.  But the powers that be at LSU were just as incompetent as Miles for allowing him to continue as head coach.

So now the search is on for a new head coach for the Tigers.  We will see what kind of contract the new coach will be offered.  Chances are the people at LSU who control that will have learned very little.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

The Atlanta Falcons 45 The New Orleans Saints 32

Atlanta came to New Orleans for Monday night football and defeated the Saints.  It was the 3rd straight loss of the new season for the Saints and the loss was larger than the score.  The team is leaderless and looks like they feel they can win just by showing up.  Like the first two games, Payton and Brees failed once more on their final offensive possession of the game and gave the football to Atlanta when they failed on 4th down.

The New England Patriots, playing with out quarterback Tom Brady for the third time won their 3rd game and have done so with two back up quarterbacks.  Their coaching staff and team are still the most consistent team in the NFL and have been for years.  The New Orleans sports writers continue to talk about Brees individual performance and records while the team keeps playing like a team in trouble.

Post game comments by Payton, Brees and some players are reruns of the past few years saying such things as:  we are professionals; we are paid to win; we have to leave our ego at the door; we have to find a way to win and dig deep; we have to do our job, etc, etc and etc.  It is past time for all the talk and time to walk the talk.  It has turned into a sad situation for such highly paid professionals.

Bounty gate will forever haunt the Saints and the coaching staff until changes are made.  And when that happens, you read it here in PolitiDose.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

Another Big First For PolitiDose

In a commentary dated 6/12/15 titled "The Ugly Side Of Technology" this writer explained the perils associated with technology and how security is not keeping up with the ability of hackers to use that same technology to invade personal information on the world wide web.  We now lean that Yahoo just announced that over 550 million of its user accounts had been hacked into and a massive security breakdown took place.

Yahoo reported the stolen data includes users names, email addresses, telephone numbers, birthdates, hashed passwords and the security questions and answers used to verify an account holders identity.  The story was reported in the Times Picayune of 9/23/16.  When a technology company like Yahoo can not protect the privacy of its users that should reinforce the fact that no system is safe.

We know that the federal government's highest security systems have been breached by foreign governments, wikileaks and individuals who obtained secret information and released it to the public.  What has happened renders Hillary Clinton's email issue moot.  The FBI has said there is no indication or evidence hackers broke into her private email server and obtained any information.  If that proves to be false at a later date it won't be near as bad as what has happened on government secured servers.

Everyone knows from published reports and books that have been written that the NSA (National Security Agency) has been tapping into the American people's emails and telephones for years.  The same is done to foreign countries.  Does any one think NSA is the only organization who has technology experts who have that capability.  They exist in civilian life also.

Technology theft has not yet reached its highest level.  The only safe way to use technology is to restrict the use by all concerned.  The personal information that can be obtained from social media is astounding.  As far as government goes, all governments spy on each other from the beginning of time and the use of technology is just another avenue to do so.  Does that really surprise any one?


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

Congress Fails To Provide The Funds To Fight The Zika Virus

The republican controlled congress tried to debate a Zika funding bill with amendments concerning Planned Parenthood and other issues which President Obama said he would veto if passed and the democrats in congress would not let the bill advance.  A stand alone bill to fund Zika should be the priority of the republican controlled congress but once again they seek to attach amendments opposed by the President.  They can not even act on an issue that is an emergency.

And to top it off Louisiana's representatives in congress support the party's position like a bunch of ditto heads.  Mary Landrieu's leadership is missed in congress and it shows.  Steve Scalise is the republicans number three man in the U.S. House and is a major factor why there has been a lack of accomplishments since his party took control of congress almost 2 years ago.

Louisiana's lawmakers in congress can't even get that body to agree on the $2.6 billion package that Governor Edwards asked for the recent flood and that President Obama supported.  Bill Cassidy who defeated Mary Landrieu is lost in the Senate.  He will go with the republican flow of ideology at the expense of the state and its people.

The republican party's inability to draft a stand alone funding bill for Zika which the democrats will support and the President will sign, is a vivid example of how they continue to obstruct needed legislation.  And do not be surprised if they support another government shut down.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

Louisiana Govrnor Edwards Stands Behind Suit Against The Oil and Gas Industry

In a Times Picayune article of 9/23 Governor Edwards said Louisiana will not shy away from suing oil and gas companies over the damage they have done to the Louisiana coast regardless of Attorney General Jeff Landry's attempts to slow or block the efforts.  The Governor made sense when he said, "when Louisiana goes before congress and ask for taxpayer's money to help fund Louisiana's coastal restoration while at home we do nothing to hold the oil and gas industry accountable for their actions."

Jeff Landry is a republican and  was on the side of the Tea Party's extreme agenda.  The Times Picayune article points out that Landry has strong ties to the oil and gas industry and has taken significant political contributions from them over the years.  The Attorney General needs to think of Louisiana and do the job he was elected to do.  He should be leading the charge against the industry because the facts are already known how oil and gas operations in Louisiana have damaged the environment.

Governor Edwards made another common sense statement when saying, "the oil and gas industry should pay for a portion of the master plan to restore the coast given their role in coastal erosion."  I believe everyone in Louisiana can relate to the governor's statement.  President Obama set the right tone and made the right decision to hold BP accountable for the damage done to Louisiana property and the personal loss due to the BP offshore blow out.  And Governor Edwards approach to allow the suits to go forward against the oil and gas industry is the right thing to do.

Jeff Landry is committed to the oil and gas industry while Governor Edwards is committed to the state and its people.  And that really says it all.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

Economic Progress Continues To Take Place On President Obama's Watch.

The good news continues for the country and its people as the President's term in office comes to an end in the next several months.  The opposite took place on President Bush's watch as he was leaving office.  The U.S. Labor Department announced that median family income increased 5.2% in 2015, the largest increase since 2007.  The U.S. Census announced that the poverty rate at the end of 2015 was 13.5%, down 1.3% from 2014 which was 14.8%.

At the same time during President George W. Bush's administration, the poverty rate was up and median family income was down.  The federal deficit was still soaring and record job losses continued to take place.  And to think President Bush inherited a cadillac economy while President Obama inherited a jalopy economy.  The next President will inherit a much better economy than President Obama did which is the way it should be with the right policies.

Understanding the past is still the key to a better future and democratic administrations have a better grasp of the past and that is why the country and its people do better under democratic administrations.  The country can not afford to experiment with a republican candidate who lacks political understanding, arithmetic and common decency.  Hillary Clinton is the most experienced candidate that has plans and the policy to improve and expand on the progress made during the present administration.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

A Thought To Keep In Mind For The November Presidential Election

The state of New York and its people will reject Donald Trump on November 8 and vote for Hillary Clinton as their choice for President of the United States.  The people that know Trump the best, where he lives, works and has his business headquarters will send a strong message with their vote that Trump is not qualified to be President.  The people of New York, the state that lived through the worst foreign terror attack in the United States remembers President George W. Bush's so called tough talk against terrorists that had no affect on that tragic day on 9/11/01.

Now the people of New York and the nation are being exposed once again to the so called tough talk by Trump against terrorists and his self proclaimed ability to defeat terror overnight.  And like Bush, Trump is doing his best to have America think it should live in fear.  The people of New York refused to live in fear even after the tragedy and their vote against Trump on November 8 will confirm they understand Trump's bragging will do nothing to keep America safe.

In the Presidential election of 2012 the people of Massachusetts rejected Mitt Romney and voted for President Obama.  Romney was a governor of Massachusetts, lived there and the people who knew him best rejected him on election day.  The 2012 and 2016 elections are not related of course but it showed the people of Massachusetts made the right choice in 2012 and now the stakes are even greater in 2016.  Trump is on record as saying he will reverse the progress made under President Obama if elected.  The people of New York will not accept that deplorable talk and cast their vote for Hillary Clinton.  

The American people should do the same on November 8, reject Donald Trump and cast their votes for Hillary Clinton as President of the United States.

This commentary written by Joe Lorio

The New York Giants 16 The New Orleans Saints 13

The Saints took their second straight loss of the regular season losing on a Giant field goal as time expired on the clock.  The game was more than just a reversal of what happened last year when the two teams met in New Orleans.  The Giants defense held the Saints offense to one touchdown and rarely did the Saints convert on 3rd down or take advantage of 3 Giant turnovers.

The Payton-Brees so called prolific offense failed to put the team in position to win on their last possession and had to punt, turn the ball over to the Giants who then drove to the Saints 3 yard line and kicked the game winning field goal.  And all the Saints could do was watch from the sidelines.  Manning did a better job for his team than Brees did for his on their final drives.  The Payton-Brees combo also failed last week on their final possession.

Bounty gate continues to be the albatross around the Saints neck.  Continuity was lost, players departed, Payton sat out the season and bounty gate year was a disaster with two head coaches splitting the season.  The sad results of bounty gate have not been reversed and the Saints continue their poor performance starting their 4th season since bounty gate.  This is not a united Saints team and Payton is not the coach many though he was.  New England has not missed a beat in its first two games and Tom Brady is sitting on the bench.

The Giants defensive coordinator Spagnuole, who was hired and then fired by Payton and trashed by some sports writers had his defense prepared for the Saints and Brees.  Any thoughts of a Saints advantage disappeared early in the first quarter.  Can the Saints turn it around and become a consistent winner under Payton and Brees?  This writer does not think so as bounty gate exposed a major flaw in Payton's coaching and management of the team.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

Donald Trump: The Deplorable Birther and Presidential Candidate Has No Character or Courage

On Friday, after over 5 years of deplorable comments and lies concerning President Obama's birth place, Trump admitted the President was born in the United States.  But like the coward he is, before making the statement he tried to blame Hillary Clinton as the person who started the birther rumor.  It was just another lie that rolls out of his  mouth because lies are a part of Trump's life.  It is how he runs his business, his personal life and his campaign.

To top his statement off he lacked the character and courage to stand on his own two feet and used Veterans in the back ground on the stage to try and look credible.  The Donald always has to use some one as a prop and he used Veterans who served their country (something Trump  never did) and exposed them to his ongoing lies.  It was a deplorable act by a deplorable Presidential candidate who lacks respect for Veterans and the President.

Hillary Clinton was right when she said some of Trump's supporters were in a basket of deplorables.  The latest poll report only 27% of republicans believe Obama was born in the United States.  The news media, especially cable news lacks rational understanding and showed their ignorance in reporting Hillary's comment about Trump's deplorable supporters.  Donald Trump actually used the definition of deplorable first long before Clinton's remark when at his campaign rally when he said he could shoot some one and his supporters would still support him.  That was a deplorable statement and if thinking his supporters would still support him after shooting some one that would describe those supporters as being deplorable.  But the media, because of their love affair with Trump, missed the real story.  It is not to late to report that and I give them permission to use this commentary.

Trump is not qualified to be President and Commander in Chief.  His life of lies and the circle he lives in is not fit to occupy the White House.  His birther statement on Friday, his failure to release his tax returns will not go away and his extremism has been unmasked.  So has the out right lies that define his cowardly character.

This writer is a Veteran who would never stand on the same stage with Donald Trump.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

Part IV: The 2016 Presidential Election: One Candidate and Party Has No Record To Run On

In the 2012 Presidential election, republican party nominee Mitt Romney went out of his way to dodge President George W. Bush's failed administration and could not articulate any accomplishments by the republic party on Bush's watch.  As a result Romney could not run a positive campaign and settled on personal attacks against President Obama.  And now, almost 4 years later, republican Presidential candidate Donald Trump, who also supported Bush's failed policies including the Iraq war is taking the same approach, only this time his personal attacks are against Hillary Clinton also.

In the mean time Hillary Clinton is on the campaign and often cites the accomplishments of President Obama and his administration and articulates her determination to improve on those accomplishments and her own plans to make that happen and to make things better.  Her story for America is about the future.  Trump and the republican party are all about the failed past.  The media has taken up sides with Trump and last week made a point of telling the people that Hillary held her first press conference in 270 days.  But they failed to say that 365 days has past and Trump still has not made his tax returns public.

Democratic administrations have a positive record of accomplishments they can talk about and relate too.  Republicans do not and as a result all they have left are personal attacks.  The November elections are about the future and that disqualifies Donald Trump and the republican party.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

The Oakland Raiders 35 - The New Orleans Saints 34

Bounty gate continues to take its toll as the Raiders beat the Saints in the Dome on Sunday afternoon.  The Saints loss was typical of past seasons in the last four years.  Beyond the loss lies the same problems the Saints had last year.  A questionable defense and a offense that seems to think all they have to do is show up and a head coach who lost credibility with Bounty gate.

Brees passed for 400 yards again against a defense that seemed to have as many penalties as plays, especially defensive holding which gave the Saints an automatic first down every time and allowed the Saints to continue their drive.  But in the end the Saints could not deliver on their final possession and put the field goal kicker out of range that field goals have become routine.  Not many 61 yard field goals are attempted every week in the NFL.  The prolific offense of Payton and Brees (N.O. sports writers signature saying) took place against a Raider defense in need of help but was not prolific on the final drive of the game.

After the game the New Orleans sports writers were up to their same old cliches and hype.  One said the fans should expect the game to be a norm for the Saints this year.  Their analysis after the game was different than what they wrote about all during spring season.  Which shows they still can not be objective in their reporting.  The most glaring problem that this writer observed while watching the game at home was the coaches and players actions on the sidelines.  They though they had the game won but forgot you have to play the full 60 minutes.

But hey, Brees will still receive the $30 million signing bonus that was reported in the Times Picayune.  His first quarter turn over that resulted in a Raider field goal made a difference in the outcome of the game.

This commentary written by Joe Lorio

Congressional Republicans Say They Will Censure President Obama

The Obama administration paid Iran $1.7 billion to settle claims related to the incomplete sale of military weapons before the Iranian Revolution in 1979.  The Treasury Department with held $400 million of that payment to make sure Iran released the four American hostages they were holding.  Republicans in congress said that was a ransom payment and that the republican controlled U.S. House would vote to censure the President this week.

Of course, with holding the $400 million was a reasonable and smart move by the administration to make sure Iran complied on their release of the hostages.  It was also the American thing to do and not ransom.  There are 3 reasons why the republicans want to call it ransom.  (1)  It is an election year and they will try to damage the President and Clinton any way they can.  (2)  President Reagan sold arms to Iran in exchange for hostages in the Iran-Contra scandal while Iran was on the list as a sponsor of terror.  It is the republican way of trying to redeem Reagan's decision because Reagan told the people he would never negotiate with terrorists, denied he did and then had to admit the truth.  (3)  Republicans still want to create an issue to scuttle the treaty with Iran which is working.  That ticks them off because they know President George W. Bush did nothing to stop the advance of N. Korea or Iran's nuclear programs.

The republican controlled congress is still a do nothing congress so they think filling up time with a censure vote of the President is an accomplishment.  The November elections need to return congress to democratic control and bring back a congress that is a working congress for all the people and the country.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

Is It Unthinkable, Or Could It Really Happen.

Could the chance exist that between now and the November election former President George W. Bush will call a news conference and announce he is supporting Hillary Clinton for President and urge his fellow Texans and the American people to do the same.  The former President, now a civilian would be in a good position to do so and restore at least some sense of responsibility in his retired life.

Bush, like Donald Trump could not admit to any mistakes while serving as President and in fact said he made the right decision in invading Iraq.  Trump's economic policy and foreign policy is the same as Bush pushed.  The big difference with Trump is he can not admit to any mistake in his personal or business life and would act the same as President.

Bush's personal and business life was and is different than Trumps.  Bush was not ego driven or looked for the spotlight nor was he married three times.  This writer believes that Bush knows very well how wrong his foreign and economic policies were for the country and its people and even knows and understands that Iraq was indeed an unnecessary war that did so much damage.  He also knows Trump's Presidency if elected would do the same damage to the country.

So Bush the civilian and former President could step up to the plate, make such an announcement and spare the country another sad chapter in its history.  It would also be something good for the former President's piece of mind in his retirement years.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

ISIS Pushed Out Of More Territory

Turkey announced that they and the free Syrian rebels have defeated ISIS along the Syria-Turkey border and that ISIS has lost all areas along that border.  ISIS used the border area to infiltrate both Syria and Turkey and move military supplies.  It is another major defeat for ISIS and Turkey's border with Syria is once again secured of the terrorists.

The fact that Turkey's military and the free Syrian rebels did the job is another piece of good news because they are defending their own countries and that has more significance and sends a more powerful message to the Islamic state.  ISIS has not only lost much territory they once captured they have also lost a number of their top leaders in Iraq and Syria to U.S. drone strikes.

Yes, progress continues to be made against ISIS but don't look for any of the Obama haters to admit it.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

NBC's "Commander in Chiefs Forum" Was A Major Failure

NBC's "forum" program failed the test thanks to Host Matt Lauer's non "Commander in Chiefs questions.  It was a continuation of the news media in general and their corrupt reporting on this years Presidential campaign.  Elections are no longer respected by the news media and that was exhibited at the "forum" last night when Lauer tried to rush up the candidates answers.  That alone showed the networks disrespect for the subject matter.  After all it was billed as a "Commander in Chiefs" forum so was rushing the answers in line with the subject matter which one would think was important.

The one positive aspect of the program was Hillary Clintons willingness to answer all the questions asked by Lauer and members of the audience.  And that is what Clinton has done all through the campaign.  Her actions show she is a better woman than Frump is a man.  Trump did not answer any question at all that Lauer or the audience asked.  He skirted all around the questions.

Of course, NBC was the network that aired Trump's television show and its affiliate MSNBC continues its love affair with Trump every day on its shows.  The "Commander in Chiefs" forum added another layer of tarnish to a news media that is out of control at a very important time of a national election.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

Part III The 2016 Presidential Election: Donald Trump Emulating George W. Bush

The comparison can be made but it is not very flattering.  Like Bush, Trump has no political understanding of the economy, foreign affairs or the country, and its people paid the price big time and our veterans paid the ultimate price in an unnecessary war in Iraq over WMD that did not exist.  Trump also tries to talk tough like Bush, and fails the real test of being tough.  Their tax plans of trickle down economics lacks the understanding of arithmetic and in Bush's case reversed the economic progress made during the Clinton administration.  Trump's tax plan would do the same to the economic progress taking place in the Obama administration.  Trumps go it alone in foreign policy and shameful talk about our allies would once again trigger a larger American burden in world affairs and make the United States less secure.

Bush learned nothing from his political experience as governor of Texas because his family name won the election as governor.  He came to Washington lacking political understanding and conspired with Cheney and other neocons to rule like a king with no checks and balances.  Trump has that same attitude but he learned it from the business world where money can buy a lot of things and also destroy a lot of things.  Both Bush and Trump's background was business and business leaders are the worst at running government because the government can not be run like a business.  Business are only concerned with the bottom line and not people.  People are the government.  Business leaders sacrifice their employees every day in favor of their executives.  CEOs and executives earn between 300-400 times what the average worker makes and trickle down economics is a business paradise.

Bush left office as one of the worst Presidents in the nation's history after reversing all the good things Clinton accomplished for the country and its people.  His lack of political understanding and attitude domestically and in foreign affairs set the country back and some of the effects are still a burden to the people.  Now Trump would like to be President at a time the Obama administration has turned the country around for the better.  That must not happen because Trump would ape the Bush doctrine and repeat the same mistakes.

The country and its people can not afford that history to repeat itself.  A word to the wise should be sufficient.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

The New Orleans Saints and Quarterback Drew Brees

Reports from the Times Picayune and Television in New Orleans indicate quarterback Drew Brees and the Saints are talking about a new contract extension.  It is being said that Brees is asking for a four year contract worth $100 million.  That is $25 million a year.  If that report is true Brees should be ashamed of himself and the Saints should be seeing red to even give that number credibility.

Drew Brees has led the Saints to 3 losing seasons in the last four years, is nearing the end of his career and is not worth $25 million a year.  Not even close.  Brees is one of many players in the NFL who are overpaid and part of a system where wealth has destroyed competition.  After the Saint's last four seasons, Brees should be giving a major cut in salary or let him seek employment elsewhere.  Peyton Manning and Tom Brady has done so much more for their teams during their career than Brees has done for his team.  More world championships, more division and conference titles, more winning seasons and more playoff appearances and wins.  Drew Brees has not earned any thing near a salary of $25 millions a year and the Saints should tell him that.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

Wisconsin Defeats LSU 16 - 14 In Green Bay

I wrote a commentary on August 12 concerning LSU and The New Orleans Saints and said this year LSU will start the season with the same problems as last year and after Saturday's defeat I am more convinced than ever LSU's offensive problems are glaring and head coach Les Miles has failed to see the problem and change the offensive nonsense.

Incompetent play calling and selection on offense is a Miles signature that has never been corrected during his 11 years as head coach.  The offense is not only boring, it is also predictable.  That is good news for LSU's opponents but terrible news for the LSU offense and its fans.  Quarterback Harris started off the season where he left off last year over throwing and under throwing receivers and poor quarterback choices at critical times.

Sports writers in New Orleans and Baton Rouge were so sure in their preseason predictions that LSU would be so much more improved than last year.  They pointed out that LSU returned the bulk of their starters from last years team both on offense and defense and that would make a difference.  Unfortunately, they were willing to forget Miles was also returning.  The hype and cliches seem to motivate them which does not allow any objectivity in evaluating the team.

One game does not make a season, but Miles has a record of losing to teams with less talent and being out coached.  Plus he has a record of not changing his offensive play calling and play selection.  That tells this writer LSU will miss the play offs once again this football season.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio